How many things do you do, in any given week, that you do not even think about? All those automatic habits we have; making the coffee, driving to work, routine household chores, even aspects of our employment – we do so many things without any conscious thought that even after a busy day, sometimes we wonder just how we spent the time.

Worship can be like that at times. After rushing around Sunday morning making sure everyone is dressed and fed on time to make it to the pew before the Processional finishes, it can be nice to sink into the familiar and comfortable and go on autopilot for just a few minutes. It is understandable, and we all do it.

All year the Youth Group has been experimenting with turning off that worship autopilot and flying on their own. We have torn through the service order to understand why we say what we say. We have explored the “mechanics” of a worship service with the different guilds and ministries. We have visited other churches and observed their traditions. We really dug into the Nicene Creed to hear what a 4th century statement of beliefs says to those of us who have only ever known the 21st century. We wanted to understand the why and how of our worship traditions.

This Sunday we not only turn off our autopilots, but we are flying solo! We have taken all we have learned and all the conversations we have had and distilled them into a special service for this Sunday morning at 9 a.m. We have broadened the traditional observance of Mother’s Day in a more inclusive celebration of family in all its myriad and wonderful incarnations. The service we have put together is one big love poem to you, our entire St. Margaret’s family. We invite you to join us to feel the love, turn off your autopilot and fly with us!

﻿May 13 Franklin A. Robinson, Archives Specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of History, will talk about his book, "Faith and Tobacco--a History of St. Thomas Episcopal Parish, Prince George's County." He looks at the role of tobacco in the early Anglican church in Maryland. This is also the home parish of Bishop Claggett. He serves as a member of the National Board of Episcopal Archivists and Historians.

May 20 Michael Parker, retired professor of English for 34 years at the Naval Academy, will speak about "Bones of Contention: St. Margaret's, St. Anne's and the Exhumation of Governor Robert Eden." Documented with photographs and artifacts from our local history.

Senior Session on Tuesday, May 14

Our last Senior Session for the program year is Tuesday, May 14, at 10 a.m. in Classroom E. All seniors (age 65+) are welcome to attend this program with clergy discussing the week's Gospel lesson as well as joys and challenges of life.

Men's Breakfast on Saturday, May 18

All men of the parish are welcome to the next Men's breakfast sponsored by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew on Saturday, May 18 at 9:00 a.m. at Riverbay Roadhouse in the Cape Center. Speaker Jim Weekley will discuss "how a history major ended up building satellite ground systems." RSVP to Tug Knorr at tugknorr@aol.com.

Blood Drive on May 19

St. Margaret’s will be hosting a blood drive in memory of Tucker Mullen at St. Margaret’s on Sunday, May 19th. A Children’s National bloodmobile will be on site from 9:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. All the blood donated will be used to help children being treated at Children’s. The children in our area with complex medical conditions are likely to be treated at Children’s National.

This summer we offer a special Children's Hour each Sunday during coffee hour (10:20 to 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall) to foster the formation of our youngest parishioners. Our Summer Children's Hour includes a gathering with clergy to discuss the Gospel Lesson of the Day and a craft/activity connected to the lesson. Our first Sunday will be June 16 and our last is August 25.

A family each week is needed to help set up for the activities and then clean up afterwards. Supplies will be organized and supplies in advance.We request that our SMC families take one Sunday during the summer to sign up for this effort.

*Do you have a high school or college graduate in spring 2019 in your family?

Email us the following information in order to celebrate on June 2nd:

Full name, family connection, school from which they are graduating.

*Our youth are offered a mission experience this summer in Central Appalachia with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP), for youth age 14 and up, June 23-29. Become the hands, feet, hammers and heart of Jesus making homes warmer, safer, drier in central Appalachia. Adult leaders are also needed. Cost for one week (includes transport, food, lodging, training, all materials) is $600. Contact the Rev. Matthew Hanisian,

*The Diocese is offering a youth mission to support Brethren Disaster Relief in Lumberton, NC on July 7-13, 2019. Trained construction leaders and household leaders will provide volunteer orientation and instruction on the work site, as well as meals at the volunteers' housing. Unskilled volunteers willing to learn are invited to work alongside those who are skilled and willing to teach. Volunteer housing is provided, often at local churches or community buildings.Learn more here.

*St. Margaret's Day School offers summer camps for children ages 2-10 from June-August. For more information and to register, go towww.stmargaretsdayschool.org.

*The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland offers weekly summer camps for different age groups at the Claggett Center outside of Frederick, Maryland. For more information, go towww.claggettcenter.org.

Senior High Camp: Grades 9-12, June 23-28

Middle School Camp: Grades 6-8, July 7-12

Youth Camp: Grades 2-5, July 14-19

Adventure Camp: Grades 4-8, July 21-26

Special Challenge Camp: For adults 21+ with special needs, July 28 - August 1

Camp Amazing Grace: For children grades 4-8 with families affected by the justice system, August 2-4

Camp for children grades 4-8 with families affected by opioid addiction, August 11-16

Guild Summer Luncheon on June 5

Our St. Margaret's Guild's annual summer luncheon will be held at Carrol's Creek Cafe in Annapolis on Wednesday, June 5 at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $30 each. Purchase by check to "St. Margaret's Church" and "Guild luncheon" in the memo line. Due by May 27.

The Guild thanks St. Margaret's Day School students and staff for spending time with them during their annual spring intergenerational event that occurred last week!

Bluegrass Mass & Parish Picnic on June 2

Sunday, June 2 - 11:15 a.m.

with Third Sunday Band

Outdoors (weather permitting)

Parish Picnic at 12:30 p.m.

Bring a folding chair or blanket for seating

Please bring a dish to share:

Last Names A-F - Bring entree dishes/chips/dips

Last Names G-M - Bring desserts/fruit platters

Last Names N-Z - Bring side dishes/salads

Hamburgers/hot dogs provided by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew

For Earth Day, our students helped with the planting of the school's vegetable garden.

Kudos to our students who raised over $4,000 for St. Jude's at their annual Trike-a-thon recently.﻿

As we grow closer to the summer months, vacations are in the near future for many parishioners. We offer a reminder that giving regularly at St. Margaret's is an important part of sustaining the life of the parish. There are a variety of ways to continue giving even when you are away from home.

Automated giving through your bank ensures that checks are sent to St. Margaret's on a regular basis. Contact your bank to start the process of giving. (As a reminder -- we now have locked mailboxes to prevent the recent thefts we experienced earlier this year.)